The Melbourne Storm are arguably the most successful NRL club over the last 25 years. Six minor premierships, seven grand final appearances — excluding those during the salary cap scandal — and four premierships. As the club prepares for it’s shot at a fifth on Sunday, foxsports.
com.au turned back the clock to the very first. An 18-14 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999, in front of a record crowd of 107, 999 fans at Olympic Park.
And Matt Geyer remembers that crowd like it was yesterday. Watch the best coverage of the 2024 NRL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > “There was a little section of Storm supporters and my friends made a sign saying ‘Geyer on fire’.
When I ran out I actually saw it — it was a purple and yellow thing in a sea of red and white,” he recalled to foxsports.com.au.
The Storm went into the clash as underdogs despite finishing the regular season higher on the ladder. They were humbled by the Dragons 34-10 in the first week of finals and only just scraped through in their next two games, winning both by two points. “The Dragons had beaten us a month ago at home — and actually flogged us— so no one gave us a chance,” Geyer said.
“Then in the lead up to the grand final, they had been quite convincing. We won both our games but we had been behind at half time and then won both by two. So everyone thought w.